The Regional Law Revision Centre, at Hannah-Waver House at the Caribbean Commercial Centre in Anguilla, continues to attract more trainees and high praise for its work.
The latest batch of trained persons, from five territories, were Ms Suzette Mayers, representing the Attorney General’s Chambers in Barbados; Ms Aura Guy of the Attorney General’s Ministry in Belize; Ms Renee Kind-Sandiford of the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Attorney General’s Chambers in Guyana; Ms Cara Tobi Galbraith of the Ministry of Justice in Jamaica; and Ms Cogontle Gatang of the Attorney General’s Chambers in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Ms Yolande Dash, the Course Facilitator, presented an informative programme which provided participants with an in-depth understanding of the law consolidation cycle and its impact on the Chambers. Ms Dash also presented various techniques in successfully managing this cycle which in turn would ensure that detailed methods are administered to produce a successful consolidation exercise. Consolidation is a continuous process of compiling all amending laws over the years into a principal legislation for ease of reference.
The two-day interactive training programme concluded on Friday, September 26. Anguilla’s Attorney General and Resident Director of the Law Revision Centre, Mr Rupert Jones, said that the work of the Law Revision Centre was extremely valuable. “The nature of that is obviously making the law in each country accessible to the general population,” he said. “That is such a fundamental building block for the rule of law. If you or I want to know what are our rights and obligations, wherever we are, the first thing we want to do is to call upon the black-letter written law, but before the law revision work was undertaken, that was much easier said than done. So it is an incredible exercise and training being provided.” The Attorney General added: “I am incredibly proud of the work that Ms Dash and the whole Centre do, and I hope that it continues to provide more law revision across the region.”
Mr Stanley Reid, then Acting Governor, told the participants in part: “I was able to see the course outline and it appeared to me to be both intensive and extensive; so I think you have been steeped in all matters pertaining to the consolidation of laws and can return to your various countries well equipped.”
He went on: “I think the Law Revision Centre can be properly described as “a centre of excellence” from what I have seen. It is drawing participants and work from throughout the entire region, and I want to encourage [the staff] to keep seeking to deliver that level of excellence.”
Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Jerome Roberts, then Acting Chief Minister, said that it was “with great pride that the Law Revision Centre in Anguilla has evolved into a centre of excellence and able to offer such training.”
Mr Roberts added: “It is our hope that the news will spread and that going forward the Centre will attract participants from the wider Commonwealth for future workshops. The Law Revision Centre is clearly an example of entrepreneurial initiative in the public service and should be used as an example of how other services can be developed and provided.’’
Ms Suzette Mayers, the Barbados participant, spoke on behalf of the other trainees. She commented on the high value of the training programme and the benefits, exposure and experience they had gained.
